North AL Mod Meet, Spring 2016

Same slow day in the office here too. I am thinking about getting this reverse pod installed and trying to find out when the suspension group buy will be for OME! Can not wait to get my truck lifted!

 

Speaking of, do you have a pic of your reverse pod?

 

I'm about to head over to Toyota to get the headlight replacement warranty started. Don't want to try to change the lights after the bumper install. Also going to stop by a place and try to get some chassis paint to repaint my skids with. A buddy told me about it and said it was real durable.

 

I plan on mounting it on the CB bracket. I may end up plasti dipping my bumper at the meet. (I have been trying to for 3 weeks now but the weather is always bad when I have time, as you can see)

 

DO ALL THE MODS

 

Oh ok nice...I was thinking you were wanting to cut into your bumper like I did. I was gonna bring my dremel to the meet if I needed to. That will be an easy install for the most part...finding penetrations for your wires will be the only obstacle. Can't wait to get to work on mine and others rigs!

 

On my truck there is a little gap at the top of the tail light. That is where I run my CB coax.

 

Thats a great idea! I should be able to do the same I would think. I am putting a CB antenna on the drivers side.

@BAMATOY I thought about doing it that way. Just thought this would be enough light for now.

 

Tell me more about the bushing/needle bearing swap please. Keep me out of search hell lol.

 

Did a little modding today to get ready for this meet. Had a tag mount backup camera that I just wasn't a fan of so I replaced it with more of a stock style one. Very pleased with the much cleaner look.

 

Looks good! From what I can see of it anyways lol!! If I was to get a backup camera it would definitely be like that!

 

Haha yea the ole iPad camera sucks but there really isn't much to see anyway.

 

Some lifted trucks start to notice a vibration around 50-55 mph. There are a few claims that stock trucks have also. When my truck had the vibration, I felt it more through the peddles/floor than in the seat or wheel. The way to confirm that this is due to the driver side needle bearing is when you feel it on a straight section of road to put the truck in four wheel drive and see if it instantly goes away.

The problem is a needle bearing in the differential that has to much tolerance. East Coast Gear Supply (ECGS) specifically listened to all the complaints, researched the issue and created a bushing to replace the original needle bearing. The change can be done with the diff still in the truck, but you need to have a way to pull the original needle bearing. They also created a tool for the removal and sell it. I had one, but can't find it at the moment. I have helped 4 people do this modification.

On any given day, there is a huge thread that is on the 2nd Gen page that is constantly updated about it.

 

Forgot to add this.

Got the hardest part done, hope to get the critical part done tonight. The plastic was hanging from my garage door, but had to pull some of it down to close it. Epoxy black primer and Hot Rod Black Satin for the top.

 

That looks great! Will your factory fog lights mount into it? (Assuming you still have the factory ones) I'm going to have some sliders on my truck before the meet. A local friend of mine is building them and he would love to build more stuff for anybody interested, so I'm basically playing Billboard for him too. He's also going to do my bumpers one day and I cannot wait for that.

 

If he needs a "billboard" for a 4th gen 4Runner, let him know I am happily available!

Also, @TacoAlaMode, bumper looks sick and is going to look awesome!

 

The way the factory lights mount isn't very easy to put into a offroad bumper. I do have some LED lights that I will be putting in.

I have to say that I am quite impressed with the design on this bumper. There are a lot of small things that you don't consider until you really have a change to study it. The top piece is a single piece bent. The winch support is a single piece bent and is how it mounts to the truck. The shackle mounts are the 2 vertical pieces that are connected to the winch plate, they cut a slot for them to come out the front. Each of the planes on the side are a single triangle bent to form the lines. A lot of CAD work to set it up I am sure.

 

Haha! I meant "billboard" in the sense that I am advertising, but I am paying for the sliders/bumpers lol. I'm sure he would be happy to build you stuff though! Like I said, you will be able to see my sliders at the meet and determine if you're interested in his work.

 

Does he make sliders for 1st gens?

 

"Does he make?" No. "Will he make?" I'm sure. Haha! He is a full-time welder at Shelton Steel in Snead, AL. He builds stuff like sliders/bumpers in his personal time trying to get his own business up and growing. Taylor Welding is the name. I know he is on instagram with his business right now, not sure what else. @taylor_welding is his instagram.